Practice does make perfect, no matter what stage in life you're in.
Whether you call it a practice, ritual, or routine, incorporating a set of actions to carry out on a consistent basis can improve your day-to-day overall. Having a practice might sound intimidating at first, but it involves doing helpful things for yourself that you also enjoy. Don't know where to start? Here are some things you can incorporate into your daily practice:
1. Movement
You don't have to do much exercise to see results in your physical wellbeing. Whether you're looking to make gains at the gym or just want to keep moving with low-impact yoga, incorporate diligent movement into your daily practice. After all, if you don't move it, you'll eventually lose it.
2. Meditation
Center yourself with deep breathing and a peaceful environment. Some people use meditation to pray while others use it to clear their heads using mindfulness practices. No matter what you use it for, know that it's important to calm your body and spirit with a moment to yourself (even just five minutes).
3. Expression
This is the part where you get up and shake some ass! Expression is how we work through our emotions and care for our subconscious. You deserve the space to scream out the lyrics to your favorite song without feeling self-conscious. But expression doesn't always have to be loud. Sketch a picture of something funny you saw instead, or color in an adult coloring book from your nearest drugstore. Choose expression every day to shake the extra baggage off.
4. Self-Soothe
We deserve daily attention in the form of relaxation. Unfortunately, many of us don't have the time or space to decompress the way we'd like. But on the bright side, there are still smaller-scale actions we can take to soothe ourselves. Something as simple as a hot cup of tea can be soothing to the body, and a YouTube video that plays peaceful sounds can be soothing for the mind. Other go-to's include Epsom salt baths, defusers, candles, and soft blankets. Anything that soothes you should to be a part of your practice.
5. Consume
Take some time to take things in. This can include consuming food in a specific way—such as eating breakfast or having a favorite snack—or even consuming information through books, newspapers, and magazines. You can even set aside time to consume particular content, such as reruns of your most-watched game show. With great timing, consumption can be a special part of your daily practice that your look forward to.
When we create an intentional daily practice, we are choosing to put ourselves first. We give so much of ourselves to everything and everyone else—it's about time we paid ourselves the attention we deserve. Because we do indeed deserve. What do you have in mind for your own daily practice? Leave a comment with your thoughts. Happy Practicing!
Comments